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English sacred choral music Trivia Quiz

The English choral tradition is considered to be one of the most important and exciting in the world. Try these questions about it!

A multiple-choice quiz by Frideswide. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
Frideswide

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
103,419

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Difficult

Avg Score
4 / 10

Plays
424

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. St Paul's Cathedral in London, home to the world famous cathedral choir, has an echo lasting approximately how long? Hint

4 seconds

10 seconds

7 seconds

2 seconds

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. Complete the text from the Magnificat, sung at evensong in churches and cathedrals across England: 'He hath put down the mighty from their seat...' Hint

'he hath filled the hungry with good things'

'and holy is his name'

'and hath exalted the humble and meek'

'Glory be to the Father and to the Son'

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. Which of these Cambridge chapel choirs, directed by Christopher Robinson, features boy trebles? Hint

Clare College

Trinity College

St John's College

Gonville and Caius

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. In the Anglican church calendar, which evening is allocated the lengthiest psalms to be sung? Hint

25th

1st

15th

3rd

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. Herbert Howells was one of the most famous composers of Anglican choral music. However, he never wrote a set of evening canticles called by which name? Hint

York

Sarum

Exeter

Gloucester

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. Which are the two Oxbridge chapel choirs that run a boys' choir alongside a mixed choir made up of men and women? Hint

Jesus, Oxford, and Selwyn, Cambridge

Worcester, Oxford, and Jesus, Cambridge

Lincoln, Oxford, and Trinity Hall, Cambridge

St Catherine's, Oxford, and Pembroke, Cambridge

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. True or false: Westminster Cathedral choir uses only men as altos.

True

False

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. The famous choir of York Minster makes use of which singers? Hint

Men and women

Men and boys

Men, and boy and girl trebles

Men and girls

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. Which of these is a famous piece by Britten in the repertoire of most English liturgical choirs? Hint

Hymn to St George

Hymn to St Andrew

Hymn to the Mother of God

Hymn to St Cecilia

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. One of the smallest cathedrals in Britain, it has a five hundred year old choir currently conducted by Stephen Darlington. Where is this? Hint

Lichfield Cathedral

Truro Cathedral, Cornwall

Southwark Cathedral, London

Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. St Paul's Cathedral in London, home to the world famous cathedral choir, has an echo lasting approximately how long?

Answer: 7 seconds

This huge echo is largely caused by the building's enormous dome.

2. Complete the text from the Magnificat, sung at evensong in churches and cathedrals across England: 'He hath put down the mighty from their seat...'

Answer: 'and hath exalted the humble and meek'

The Magnificat comprises the words Mary is said to have spoken to the Angel Gabriel.

3. Which of these Cambridge chapel choirs, directed by Christopher Robinson, features boy trebles?

Answer: St John's College

St John's College and King's College are the only Cambridge college chapel choirs not to admit women.

4. In the Anglican church calendar, which evening is allocated the lengthiest psalms to be sung?

Answer: 15th

The psalms set for the 15th evening tell the story of the Israelites sinning in the desert.

5. Herbert Howells was one of the most famous composers of Anglican choral music. However, he never wrote a set of evening canticles called by which name?

Answer: Exeter

Howells left a huge legacy of evening canticles, but never wrote a setting for Exeter Cathedral.

6. Which are the two Oxbridge chapel choirs that run a boys' choir alongside a mixed choir made up of men and women?

Answer: Worcester, Oxford, and Jesus, Cambridge

Worcester College chapel's mixed choir is one of the most recent additions to the Oxbridge choral scene, having been founded in 2001. Jesus College Cambridge has run two parallel choirs for some years now.

7. True or false: Westminster Cathedral choir uses only men as altos.

Answer: False

Westminster Cathedral Choir's unique sound comes from the fact that it uses not only men as altos, but also boys.

8. The famous choir of York Minster makes use of which singers?

Answer: Men, and boy and girl trebles

York Minster is Northern Europe's largest gothic cathedral, with a wonderful acoustic and excellent choir.

9. Which of these is a famous piece by Britten in the repertoire of most English liturgical choirs?

Answer: Hymn to St Cecilia

The piece celebrates Cecilia, patron saint of music, whose saint's day is 22 November. The 'Hymn to the Mother of God' is in fact a piece by John Tavener.

10. One of the smallest cathedrals in Britain, it has a five hundred year old choir currently conducted by Stephen Darlington. Where is this?

Answer: Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford

Christ Church is a choral foundation originally set up by Cardinal Wolsey in the sixteenth century.

Source: Author Frideswide

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